Yewaland to hold maiden education summit April 15

The Yewa People Development Council, (YDC), an umbrella Council for all pan Yewa development-oriented associations and baby of Yewa Traditional Council, YTC, has concluded plans to hold Yewa Education Summit between Tuesday 15th April, 2025 and Wednesday 16th April, 2025.

At a pre-event press briefing in Ilaro, Ogun State, the Chairman Governing Council of YDC, Professor Rahmon Bello said the purpose of the Summit is to carry out a holistic situation analysis of the state of education in Yewaland and assess this vis-a-vis state of education in other parts of Ogun State and Nigeria.

“We are presently aware of the state of inadequate teachers, inadequate infrastructure and the negative impact that our location and environment at the Nigerian border and the lure for our youths to engage in inter-border trade is having on their low interest in education. The summit, themed “Repositioning Education in Yewaland: Challenges and Prospects,” will bring together key stakeholders to assess the current state of education and develop actionable strategies for sustainable growth and development”, said Prof. Bello.

Prof. Bello identified inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and the increasing shift of youths toward inter-border trade as major challenges affecting educational development in the region.

He added that the summit would serve as a platform for stakeholders to explore innovative solutions and chart a sustainable path for the future of education in Yewaland.

According to the former Vice Chancellor  of University of Lagos, the summit will have Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State, as the Special Guest of Honour, while Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro, Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, will serve as the Royal Father of the Day.

The keynote address, titled “Critical Assessment of the Current State of Education and its Impact on the Socio-Economic Development of Yewaland,” will be delivered by Prof. Taiwo Edun, a renowned academic and former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University. Also, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu , will lead a delegation of key stakeholders to deliver goodwill messages.

The event will also feature a series of thought-provoking paper presentations by renowned experts, including “The Roles of Critical Stakeholders in Advancing Education in Yewaland” by Very Rev. Akanbi Orobiyi, Retired Principal-General, Yewa/Awori Division; “Funding and Financing for Sustainable Educational Development in Yewaland” by Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, Professor of Economics and Former Vice-Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta; “TVET, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Training Pathways for Youth Development in Yewaland” by Dr. (Mrs.) Iroidoro Charlotte Bose, Deputy Rector (Academics), The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; and “Framework for Career Advisory and Mentorship for Yewa Youths” by Prof. Tolu Ogunleye, Director of Centre for Counselling Services, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.